Music – Page 3820 – 105.7 WDNY

Thanks to “Cold Heart,” Elton John officially marks 50 years in the ‘Billboard’ Hot 100’s Top 40

October 13, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Happy Golden Anniversary to Elton John, who can now officially brag that he’s been scoring top 40 hits for 50 years.

“Cold Heart,” his Dua Lipa collaboration that’s a mashup of four of his past songs, has jumped from #36 to #32 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s the first time he’s been in the top 40 of the chart since “Written in the Stars,” his 1999 duet with LeAnn Rimes.

According to Billboard, that means Elton’s top 40 hits now span 50 years and 10 months — his first top 40 hit, “Your Song,” charted in December of 1970. Not including holiday songs, this is the longest span for any artist in Billboard history. Michael Jackson previously held the record at 46 years, eight months and three weeks.

Elton recently told Billboard that he credits “Dua Lipa’s popularity” with a lot of the song’s success, as well as the “brilliant” remix that the Australian dance act Pnau did in mashing up the songs. However, he notes, “I feel very, very content and happy that I’m relevant. I’ve always tried to be relevant.”

Billboard also points out the mind-blowing fact that the week in 1970 when Elton scored his first top 40 hit, the artists in the top five were Smokey Robinson, Santana, George Harrison, The Fifth Dimension and The Partridge Family. Now, it’s the likes of Drake, Justin Bieber, Lil Nas X and Ed Sheeran.

Duran Duran celebrating release of new album, ‘Future Past,’ next week with special streaming event

October 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Duran Duran will celebrate their 15th and latest studio album, Future Past, with a special virtual album-release event that will stream live on the Dreamstage.live platform at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 21, one day before the record hits stores.

The event will feature a live Q&A with Duran Duran’s members, during which they will share stories about their 40 years together as a band. The interview segment will be followed by the premiere of a new documentary titled Duran Duran: Alison Jackson’s Double Take, which gives a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the group’s music video for “Anniversary,” a recently released advance single from Future Past.

The “Anniversary” video was directed by Alison Jackson, an award-winning filmmaker, photographer and artist who explores the cult of celebrity while using celeb lookalikes.

The streaming event will replay at 8 p.m. ET on October 21, and then will be available on demand for 72 hours. Tickets can be purchased now at Dreamstage.live. Check out a trailer for the event on YouTube.

As previously reported, Future Past will be released on October 22 and includes guest appearances by Blur guitarist Graham Coxon, Swedish pop singer Tove Lo, German-born U.K. rapper Ivorian Doll, Japanese punk group CHAI and longtime David Bowie keyboardist Mike Garson.

Future Past was co-produced by Duran Duran with the legendary Giorgio Moroder and British DJ/producer Erol Alkan. You can pre-order it now.

Vanilla Fudge’s Mark Stein releasing debut solo album, ‘There’s a Light,’ in November; listen to lead single now

October 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Mark Stein, lead singer and keyboardist of the veteran psychedelic rock band Vanilla Fudge, will release his debut solo album, There’s a Light, on November 26.

Stein recorded the album during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was inspired by the health crisis and other issues the U.S. and the world have been facing — including social unrest, racial disparity and political conflicts — to put together collection of songs offering such themes as hope, unity and redemption.

“This is an album about hope, but at the same time, I had to sing about the dangers of division,” the 74-year-old musician notes. “When I started the newest collection of songs during the early weeks of the pandemic, it dawned on me that I had created an album with a theme. These songs are reflections of what the world is about now, and what we need to do to bring us together again.”

The album’s lead track, “We Are One,” has been released as an advance digital single, and a companion music video for the tune has premiered on YouTube. Stein says the song speaks of “unity and what I know our country and the world is capable of.”

There’s a Light also includes two classic covers tunes that reflect the album’s themes, renditions of The Temptations‘ “Ball of Confusion” and The Rascals‘ “People Got to Be Free,” and culminates with an emotional version of “America the Beautiful.”

There’s a Light can be pre-ordered on CD now at MerchBucket.com, and limited-edition bundles featuring a signed copy of the disc, as well as a Mark Stein T-shirt, bracelet and bandana, also can be purchased at the site.

Here’s the There’s a Light track list:

“We Are One”
“Ball of Confusion”
“We Are Survivors”
“Lyin'”
“Racism”
“All Lives Matter”
“Let’s Pray for Peace”
“People Got to Be Free”
“Break It Down”
“America the Beautiful”

Nelly’s former group member reignites feud over his success

October 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

After being honored last week with the BET I Am Hip Hop Award for career achievement, Nelly is now feuding again with one of his former group member who wants more credit for his success.

The 46-year-old rapper began his career with the group the St. Lunatics before launching his solo career in 2000 with the landmark Country Grammar album, which has sold over 10 million copies. Ali from the St. Lunatics has beefed with Nelly for years, and now they are feuding again after Ali claimed that Nelly dissed him Monday on Instagram.

The former Real Husbands of Hollywood star commented in his post, “It’s called a career and in it you have ups and downs…some never have ups themselves so technically they just never had a career. they just was apart of someone else. FACT!!”

Ali took that remark as a personal insult, and had harsh words for Nelly. He claims that he was the ghostwriter behind Nelly’s solo success, and slammed him for slow sales of his new country album, Heartland.

“Do you notice that he hasn’t said ANYTHING about that country album !!??,” Ali responded in his own Instagram message. “Well I’ll tell you why…13,000 !!!! Wow, that’s how many copies of that album he sold !! ‘MY’ career was writing you a career.”

He added, “to be continued (it’s all the most grand illusion ever pulled, and it’s all unraveling RIGHT NOW… and he’s mentally suffering trying to hide the secrets).”

In February, Ali claimed that Nelly “hustled” the entire group, and asked him to put the group back together again. The St. Lunatics released only one studio album, Free City, in 2001.

Tyga arrested for felony domestic violence

October 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Tyga has been arrested on felony domestic violence charges following allegations of abuse by his ex-girlfriend, Camaryn Swanson.

In a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department to ABC News, authorities say that Tyga, born Michael Stevenson, turned himself in on Tuesday morning “around 9:00 am where he was arrested and booked for felony domestic violence.”

Tyga’s bail was listed at $50,000, although it’s reported that by Tuesday afternoon, the rapper had quickly bailed himself out.

As previously reported, Tyga’s arrest comes after Swanson took to social media on Monday evening to share photos of the alleged injuries she suffered as a result of what she says was an altercation with the rapper.

In an Instagram Story where she appears to have a black eye, Camaryn tagged TMZ and wrote, “I’ve been emotionally, mentally, and physically abused and I’m not hiding it anymore.”

According to TMZ, the incident occurred after Swanson arrived at Tyga’s home uninvited. There, she reportedly argued and yelled at the rapper until she was picked up by her mother. Swanson, however, disputes claims that she was told not to show up at Tyga’s home.

Tyga and Swanson have been reportedly dating since the beginning of the 2021.

It’s a boy! Usher and girlfriend Jennifer Goicoechea welcome their second child together

October 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Congratulations to Usher and his girlfriend, Jennifer Goicoechea, who announced Tuesday she recently gave birth to a baby boy.

“Hi my name is Sire Castrello Raymond,” the eight-time Grammy winner captioned a photo of his newborn on Instagram. “I am the newest addition to the Raymond crew. I was born Sept 29, 2021 at 6:42 pm weighing 7 lbs 13 oz. Hear me roar … A.K.A Ra Ra Gang.”

Goicoechea commented, “The Champ is here.”

The couple ALSO have a 1-year-old daughter named Sovereign Bo Raymond. Usher also has two sons: 13-year-old Usher V, known as Cinqo, and Naviyd, 12, with his ex-wife, Tameka Foster, to whom he was married from 2007 to 2009.

Usher also was previously married to Grace Miguel from 2015 to 2018. They do not have children together.

Last week, Usher announced two bonus dates for his residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. He’ll be performing there on Thursday, December 23 and Friday, December 24, in addition to his previously planned shows on December 28, 29, 31 and January 1, 2022.

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Lionel Richie, Slash, Depeche Mode & more contribute items to MusiCares benefit auction

October 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Lionel Richie, Guns N’ Roses‘ Slash and Depeche Mode are among the many artists contributing items to an upcoming auction benefiting the Recording Academy’s MusiCares charity, which provides medical, financial and personal assistance to in-need members of the music community.

A black jacket Richie wore during his 2015 performance at the U.K.’s Glastonbury festival is up for bid, and is estimated to sell for between $6,000 and $8,000.

Slash is parting ways with one of his famous top hats, signed and featuring a hand-drawn skull-and-bones sketch, which is being sold alongside a sterling silver ring. They’re estimated to fetch between $5,000 and $7,000. The guitar great also has contributed a signed Epiphone Slash Les Paul Deluxe, valued between $1,000 to $2,000, to the sale.

Meanwhile, a black-and-white Fender Squier Stratocaster electric guitar signed by Depeche Mode’s David Gahan and Andrew Fletcher, as well as by former band member Alan Wilder, will be going on the block and is expected to sell for $1,000 to $2,000. Gahan also has contributed a red blazer he wore on Depeche Mode’s 2017-2018 tour that’s estimated to sell for $2,000 to $4,000.

The auction will also include items from Dolly Parton, KISS‘ Gene Simmons, Jeff Beck and many others.

Julien’s Auctions is hosting the sale, which takes place online and in Beverly Hills, California, on January 30, ahead of the 2022 Grammys on January 31. For more info, visit JuliensAuctions.com.

Slash, James Hetfield, Jeff Beck & more contribute signed items to MusiCares benefit auction

October 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Guns N’ Roses‘ Slash, Metallica‘s James Hetfield and Jeff Beck are among the many artists contributing signed items to an upcoming auction benefiting the Recording Academy’s MusiCares charity, which provides medical, financial and personal assistance to in-need members of the music community.

The sale includes guitars signed by Slash, Hetfield and Beck.

Slash’s contribution a Epiphone Slash Les Paul Deluxe, valued between $1,000 to $2,000. Separately, the guitar great is parting ways with one of his famous top hats, autographed and featuring a hand-drawn skull-and-bones sketch, that will be sold alongside a sterling silver ring for an estimated total of $5,000 to $7,000.

Hetfield is offering a black ESP Vulture guitar that has an estimated worth of $4,000 to $6,000. A 1960s Gibson Les Paul electric guitar signed Beck also is going up for bid, and has an estimated value of $1,000 to $2,000.

The auction will also include items from Mötley Crüe‘s Tommy Lee, KISS‘ Gene Simmons, the late Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland, Depeche Mode and many others.

Julien’s Auctions is hosting the sale, which takes place online and in Beverly Hills, California, on January 30, ahead of the 2022 Grammys on January 31. For more info, visit JuliensAuctions.com.

BLACKPINK no longer accepting gifts from fans

October 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Attention all Blinks: While BLACKPINK appreciates the gifts their fans give them, they say they would rather the gifts go to a worthy cause.

Through their label YG Entertainment, the group announced Tuesday that they will “politely refuse” presents for anniversaries, holidays and any other occasions. Instead, they would like fans to show their support by donating to places in need.

Going forward, any items — with the exception of handwritten letters — sent to YG headquarters for the group will be discarded.

Adam Lambert promises “creepy, spooky vibe” for this month’s Las Vegas residency

October 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Adam Lambert‘s mini Las Vegas residency runs October 20 through October 30 at the Venetian Resort Las Vegas, and he says his performance will be well-suited for the spooky season.

“It’s a special set list put together for this time of year, Halloween being at the end of the month,” Adam tells E! Online. “I’m very excited. It should be fun.”

And while Adam isn’t going to take the stage dressed up like a ghost or goblin, he’ll still be paying homage to the holiday.

“I’m not doing costumes per se, I’m not dressing up in a Halloween costume, but I’m definitely giving you like, a dark, goth, creepy, spooky vibe,” he explains. “Like ‘modern witch-slash-True Blood,’ but no fangs. But who knows? I might get inspired by the last show. I don’t plan everything in advance.”

You won’t be able to see the last show unless you buy a ticket, but on October 29, Adam will be doing a livestream of his show for fans who can’t make it to Sin City. Meanwhile, you can catch Adam in action Wednesday night when his new show Clash of the Cover Bands premieres on E!. He’s one of the judges, along with Ester Dean and Meghan Trainor.

“It was so crazy because we filmed this show on the same exact stage and studio as American Idol,” the show’s season eight runner-up tells E! “So walking backstage into the studio every day was just so surreal…I enjoyed that full circle.”

Adam adds, “And it made me keep in mind that when you get up on stage and…you’re putting yourself out there to be commented on by three people at a desk in front of you, it’s not always the easiest thing.”

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